List of Birds:

Grebes[edit]
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and
divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20
species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Storm-petrels[edit]
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and
small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are
21 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tropicbirds[edit]

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers.
Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species
which occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pelicans[edit]
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order
Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in
the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens

Darters[edit]
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Anhingidae

Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like
appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown
plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much
paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and
their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of
cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are 4 species worldwide and 1
species which occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Frigatebirds[edit]
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely
black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim
or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are
essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs
in the Democratic Republic of Congo.